Celebrating Residential Masonry

Several outstanding projects won awards during the Residential Masonry Contractors Association's annual event.

Pacific NW Masonry and Design's Suncadia Showcase House won an Excellence award in the over $10,000 category.

Single-family homes, condos, and poolhouses were among the winning projects honored at the Residential Masonry Contractors Association's (RMCA) Celebration of Masonry Excellence.

The second annual event, held in December in Seattle, also saw a changing of the guard with a new president sworn in. Jim Frisch, of Western Masonry, became president, marking the emotional departure of president, Mark VanWell. VanWell, who co-founded the association in 2004 with Jamie Holliday, of Holliday Masonry, and Mike Homchick, of Homchick Stoneworks, left his post to pursue another board opportunity with Associated Builders and Contractors.

Many of the projects exemplified the best in residential masonry. Categories for the Excellence judging included projects as big as multifamily/townhouses and condominiums, single-family residences, with masonry portions both over and under $10,000. Other projects were as small as outdoor living space barbeques, fences, entry monuments, and fireplaces. RMCA designed the categories so that all residential masons could submit and participate, regardless of the size of the firm.

Pacific NW Masonry & Design's Suncadia Showcase House (over $10,000 category); the Multifamily/Condo category winner (tie) was The Reserve at Town Center (Holliday Masonry) and Aljoya (VanWell Masonry); Single-family (over $10,000) award went to the Elenbloss Residence by Wolfproof Masonry: Single-family Residence (under $10,000) winner was Jim Worden Masonry. Other winners were Hunts Point Fence by Western Masonry; Retaining Wall by Blanchard Masonry; The Observatory by Arne Hall Masonry, and The Poolhouse by Osimanti Masonry.

Project teams honored at the event included the mason contractor, the architect/designer, the owner, the builder, and the material supplier. Mutual Materials, I-XL Masonry Supply, Owens-Corning/Cultured Stone, Montana RockWorks, and Marenakos Stone Center received plaques in recognition of their masonry materials.

RMCA was established in 2004 and holds several events throughout the year. These include a fishing tournament for employees and business associates; a three-year state-certified apprenticeship school; foreman supervisory upgrade classes; summer barbecue for family, friends and business associates; quarterly meetings; annual certification seminar weekend; and the annual Residential Masonry Celebration Evening.

RMCA is open to all mason contractors, large or small, throughout the U.S. RMCA offers its members the support, knowledge and experiences of generations of masons, as well as a 401(k) program, legal advice, lien support, and a multitude of other member benefits.